It is Friday, time for the Spice of the week, but we
have something special for you today. We would like to introduce a new BLE
topic describing various poisonous species from different parts of the world –
Poisonous Nature.

You can find more than 30 species belonging to
different groups, which you may not have had any idea could be poisonous. More
species will be added regularly in the future, and we will inform you about
each of them. The images and illustrations link to their variable sources: BHL,
EOL or Europeana (including content from the OpenUp! project). This new topic
also includes more than 90 books describing the species in more detail.

Mistletoe in crown of tree - EOL.

Here is the first highlight from Poisonous
Nature, one of the symbols of Christmas, which brings fortune and blessing to
your homes – European Mistletoe (Viscum
album). Did you know that mistletoe
contains the poison lectin, which strengthens the body's immune reaction
against cancer and even slows tumor growth?

European Mistletoe - Viscum album - BHL.

Mistletoe is an angiosperm,
living as a hemi-parasite on other plants. It uses its special root-like organs
(haustoria) to steal nutrients, water and minerals from its host. As opposed to
true parasites, it also uses photosynthesis to create its own organic
substances. There is only one species of mistletoe in Europe: European or
Common Mistletoe (Viscum album). It
can grow on deciduous or coniferous trees, dependent on the subspecies. The
poisonous qualities of mistletoe have not been conclusively proven; only larger
quantities are known to cause diarrhea and stomachaches. Only in nursing
infants can poisoning have more severe consequences.

European Mistletoe - Viscum album - image is under CC-BY-SA, from The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - OpenUp! content on Europena.

You can find more about the mistletoe on BLE PoisonousNature. We wish you great Christmas Holidays and of course, stay tuned!!

Our “Spice of the Week” is coriander, one of
the oldest cultivated plants and most popular spices in the world!

Like
several spices that we’ve featured so far, coriander was a significant spice in
ancient times. Sugar-coated coriander seeds were used as a remedy for
stomach aches, digestive problems and intestinal parasites It has been discovered in pyramids,
where they were part of the entourage that accompanied the pharaohs to the
afterlife. The Greeks and Romans used it to spice wine and make several
medicines.

After a while, we are back with new spice of
the week. Cassia is made from the flowers of the Cinnamomum aromaticum – and it’s related to the better
known spice cinnamon.

Cassia is one of the world’s oldest known spices – cassia buds were
mentioned in a herbarium from 2700 BC and in the bible. It is said that this
was one of the spices that Moses was supposed to consecrate the tabernacle
with.

It’s also one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines, and
in Russia and Germany, it is used to flavor chocolate. Care for some chocolate
pork chops with cassia? Then check out the Spice in the BLE!

As additional recipe we are giving you - Hot pot

2 kg chickens separated into 8
pieces

2 l water

2 teaspoons salt

1,5 kg fatty pork cut into
cubes

2 onions

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 hot chili peppers (or more)

5 cm piece of Cassia buds

4 cloves

½ teaspoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Cook
all ingredients in a pot until tender. Bone chicken, return to pot and serve
potatoes as a side dish. It is an Indian food for ten or more people. In the
original recipe, cassava juice is also added.

That is all for now, but next week we will be here again with new spice of the week and also with new topic "Poisonous Nature". Stay tuned.